Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Colour:
Image not available

 
Share your own customer images
Search inside this book
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

If Only It Were True [Mass Market Paperback]

Marc Levy (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Turtleback --   -- --
Paperback --   -- --
Mass Market Paperback, Mar 2001 --   -- --
Books Trade-In
Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more.

Book Description

Publication Date: Mar 2001

Fall in love all over again … Imagine … A couple unlike any you’ve ever met. A situation even they don’t understand. A spellbinding love story. And a remarkable literary debut. Marc Levy’s IF ONLY IT WERE TRUE.

A young San Francisco archictect, Arthur returns to his new apartment after an exhausting day. Relaxing in the bath, he hears fingers snapping in time to the music on his radio. He traces the noise to a closet, where, to his surprise, he finds a striking woman. Thinking she’s part of a practical joke he asks her to leave. But Lauren, stunned to discover that Arthur can see and hear her reveals the extraordinary truth to him. 6 months before, she was in a car crash; her body now lies in a hospital bed, in a coma. Since then, she has been forced to wander as a spirit, until frightened and lonely she came back to her apartment. The one her mother rented to Arthur after abandoning hope of her daughter recovering.

Initially sceptical, Lauren finally proves to Arthur that what she has said is true. Slowly they begin to explore uncharted areas of intimacy. But when the doctors decide to turn off the machines keeping Lauren alive, Arthur must find a way to save her. Mind, body and soul. For it is only her love that can save him…

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customers Who Viewed This Item Also Viewed

Product details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Pocket Books; Revised edition (Mar 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0743406184
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743406185
  • Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 10.7 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,118,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Marc Levy Page
Marc Levy
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.

Product Description

Amazon Review

Steven Spielberg has bought the film rights to Marc Levy's debut novel, If Only It Were True. He was so enthusiastic about the idea for the story that he handed over the cash ($2 million) before seeing the manuscript. And it is a great story. A young architect, Arthur, moves into his apartment and finds a girl in his closet. But Lauren Kline isn't an ordinary girl. She has been in a coma for six months after crashing her open top Triumph--her "heart is beating in one place" but her "spirit is alive somewhere else." And that somewhere else is with Arthur; he's the only one who can see, hear and touch her.

The book is unashamedly romantic, the couple fall in love, stroll through San Francisco, smooch on the sea shore and contemplate the true meaning of life and love. It's all about: "Recognising happiness when it's lying at your feet, having the will and the courage to reach down and take it in your arms, and to hold on to it." But Lauren's life support machine is about to be turned off and Arthur must save his invisible girl because "each second with you is worth more than any other second."

The dialogue is intense, soul bearing and perhaps slightly naive. This is a compelling story and the novel's tone allows for endless speculation about the style of the eventual film. It would make a fine screwball comedy, or a medical drama--ER goes Oprah. Spielberg could exploit the living dead angle: a zombie rom.com, a sort of Re-animating Baby. Perhaps it will star Meg Ryan and be wistful and wide-eyed. And surely there's only one possibility for the soundtrack: The Smiths' "Girlfriend in a Coma"? --James Barry --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

• ‘The latest international publishing sensation.’ – The Guardian

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
See all Product Description
Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
THE NOVELTY CLOCK SITTING ON THE UNPAINTED wooden nightstand sounded at five-thirty. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

› Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
19 reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic 5* 16 Feb 2006
By clucky_lucky_ducky
Format:Paperback
After seeing the film in January (I absolutely loved it) i thought why not read the original book? (originaly published as 'If Only It Were True'). For anyone not familiar with the plot a young and successful doctor (Lauren) is involved in a car crash, some weeks later architect Authur moves into Laurens apartment and soon discovers her occupying a closet in his bathroom. As the only person who can see Lauren a very special bond begins to grow. But can they get Lauren back into her living form?
I bought the book on the friday morning and had finished it by the saturday evening, i couldnt put it down, the film is nothing compaired to the book!! The plot is slightly changed for reasons best known to the screenplay writer(s)as the book is brilliant in comparison.At the end of every chapter you are left wanting more, and so you have to read on, i would strongly urge any chic lit/ rom com lovers to buy this book it is a lovely story with everything you could want laughs, loves and a few tears.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars why not? 5 May 2004
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I read this book in its original French: (as a resident in France it was the first book I have read in a foreign language.)
The reviews on the British Amazon site didn't seem to be very encouraging so I looked on Amazon.fr where they were much better. I think one can concede from that that the book isn't as successful in translation.
I found the book very imaginative and I thought it was interesting to decide for yourself whether or not the story was supposed to be true (within the boundary of fiction) or not.
A brilliant and unusual idea...I think everyone will have their own ideas about how much they are supposed to believe.
I am going to give this book in its original language to French friends. I really enjoyed it and found the flow of words beautiful.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Good Idea.... 17 Aug 2002
By Karon.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I must admit I was a little disappointed after reading this book, a brilliant idea for a storyline but it just wasn't that well written.

It almost felt as if I was reading a book aimed at teenagers. There is no real depth to the characters,all explantions are skimmed over and not developed or explored at all. Arthur and Lauren begin a love affair (Well I take it thats what happens as apparently they kiss and spend some intimate time together, which is never fully explained!) but the whole love affair reads as a matterof fact thing that just happened because shes a woman (or ghost or whatever) and he's a man - So on that basis I think I'll walk down my street today and begin an affair with the first man I bump into because, heys he's a man thats what happens!! Wheres the chemistry?

If you want a real heart-retching romance or love story with meaning and a plot read "The Bronze Horseman" a far superior novel in every way!

Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?   Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Just Like Heaven
Unfortunately this book is the same as If Only It Were True. I didn't know that when I was purchasing the title above. Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2010 by Berry Black
4.0 out of 5 stars very different from the movie
having seen the movie first and been slightly disappointed by it, wasnt expecting very much from this book but it surprised me. Read more
Published on 11 July 2007 by Lindymck
5.0 out of 5 stars What a wonderful story
I loved this - simple, escapist and just a really good story.

Suspend your disbelief and go with the flow of the story. I thought it was a clever idea well executed. Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2007 by avidreader
5.0 out of 5 stars Suspend Your Disbelief
I read this book before the film came out and I loved it (I have not heard good things about the movie and probably won't bother with it). Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2006
5.0 out of 5 stars If Only It Were True
When I first started reading this book. I couldn't put it down as I got so into it you never know whats going to happen will they end up together or not. Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2005
5.0 out of 5 stars Encapsulating Read
I read the translated version of Marc Levy's 'If Only It Were True' and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was completely absorbed in the characters; although there was an absence of... Read more

Published on 3 May 2005 by A. Dunn
4.0 out of 5 stars If only it were true.
I think this is a great book. But im afraid i wont be able to read it again. i think i imagine people's positions too much and get caught up with the story too much. Read more
Published on 10 Nov 2003 by Rob Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars The best book I've read in years!
This book is absolutely gourgeous. I just couldn't put it down. It's truly magical and it really makes you believe in love and life. Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting but not mushy !
This is a gripping story on more than one level. Cetainly it portrays a spell-binding romance, but it also urges us to look beyond the ordinary hum-drum black-and-white of... Read more
Published on 14 April 2001
3.0 out of 5 stars Fairytale escapism
I read this book thinking it was going to be a little bit twee - happily, I was wrong. A really nice read that makes you wish that some things were really true. Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2001
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

There's a problem loading this menu at the moment.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.

    Your Shopping Basket is empty.

    Give it purpose -- fill it with books, DVDs, clothes, electronics and more.

    If you already have an account, sign in.

    There's a problem previewing your shopping basket at the moment.

    Check your Internet connection and go to your cart, or try again.

    View Shopping Basket (0 items)

      Customer Discussions

      This product's forum
      Discussion Replies Latest Post
      No discussions yet

      Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
      Start a new discussion
      Topic:
      First post:
      Prompts for sign-in
       


      Active discussions in related forums
      Discussion Replies Latest Post
      fiction discussion forum
      Self-published books: pain or gain?       		5999 2 minutes ago
      fiction discussion forum
      Any good books involving buttoned-up characters set in aristocratic homes?       		9 13 minutes ago
      romance discussion forum
      Cant seem to get into another book!!!!       		5689 15 minutes ago
      fiction discussion forum
      The non author mosty harmless book club.       		1602 19 minutes ago
      romance discussion forum
      Looking for books like Slammed, Beautiful Disaster, Easy,       		7348 31 minutes ago
      fiction discussion forum
      how much can you trust an editor?       		44 34 minutes ago
      fiction discussion forum
      Great Authors who are ignored probably because they haven't been on a reality show       		63 1 hour ago
      fiction discussion forum
      Come on - why don't we write our own book right here in the fiction forum ? I'll do the first sentence, and then jump in....hold on, here we go...       		7129 2 hours ago
      Search Customer Discussions
      Search all Amazon discussions
         
      Related forums

      Listmania!

      Create a Listmania! list

      Look for similar items by category

      Feedback